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Lopes believes Phillies are still formidable

Lopes believes Phillies are still formidable

By Todd Zolecki
/
MLB.com |

LOS ANGELES -- Davey Lopes knows the Phillies as well as anybody, and he still thinks they have a run in them.

He served as their first-base coach from 2007-10, which means he played a role in one World Series championship, two National League pennants and four National League East titles. Lopes has been the first-base coach with the Dodgers since.

But while the Phillies have limped through the first three months this season, Lopes said he believes the Phillies are better than they have showed.

"People talk about age, but if those guys are healthy, I don't think age is a factor," he said. "They can still play. The guy at first [Ryan Howard] is always dangerous. When I was there, we had guys at short, second and third hitting 30 bombs. That team had great pitching and were very smart, with an intellect for how to play the game -- [Chase] Utley and J-Roll [Jimmy Rollins], especially. They're head and shoulders over a lot of players. They were at that highest level those four years. They had a confidence with each other. They loved going into New York, J-Roll saying they were going to win the series, then going 6-for-10. He was the MVP for a reason. Those guys are strong mentally. I've got tremendous respect for those players and Charlie."

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.